Product Description

Michael Foreman''s watercolours document the detail of war days in Britain. This book is written in memor y of 4 of his uncles who died in the Great War '

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1892381 in Books
• Published on: 1995-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 65 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Dedicated to the memory of four uncles who died in WW I, Foreman's moving, informative follow-up to War Boy is crammed with concrete details and permeated with emotion. Freddie, Billy, Lacey and Will, youths from the English countryside, find themselves caught up in the euphoria of flag-waving and patriotism when war breaks out in 1914. From every mailbox, every wall, posters demand devotion to king and country; reproductions of these posters alternate with Foreman's understated watercolors. Amid cheers and jubilation, the four sign up. Their excitement is palpable as they head off to France, and the sensitive illustrations distill their sense of adventure. "We'll be back by Christmas," they think, but are met at the front with gunfire, rain, mud, hunger and death. Hope reigns anew on Christmas Day, when the Germans and the "Tommies" play soccer, exchange gifts and greetings, but it is short-lived. Foreman draws the many sides of war with heartbreaking clarity as he transmutes the personal experiences of his uncles into a universal story. Artwork shimmers with the luster of memory and fellow-feeling; a gentle gleam rises even from military hardware, which serves to both soften and highlight the horror of war. History springs to life in this admirable work, the 1993 winner of Britain's Smarties Book Prize. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author
Michael Foreman is an award-winning children's author and illustrator. prestigious awards. He is a visiting tutor at the Royal College of Art, and at his house in St Ives, Cornwall.

Customer Reviews

Teacher's Dream
This is a rare book for anyone who loves to teach and learn about history. Michael Foreman has taken a remarkable event (i.e. The Christmas Day Truce of WWI)and created a timeless tale. His book is packed with wonderful illustrations, and contains many facts about the Great War. Foreman has also woven primary documents from the time period throughout the book; most of which are in the form of propaganda posters. Overall, this book comes highly recommended, and it will be a shame if it is not re-printed soon!

One of the best World War 1 stories for young readers.
Michael Foreman writes as beautifully as he draws. This is an evocative story of a Christmas truce during WW1 in which German and British soldiers become friends, singing carols and playing soccer together, learning to see one another as friends and fellow human beings. When the truce ends, each side deliberately fires over the heads of the other, unable to kill men they now regard as comrades. The German command learns of the game...War Game is a classic war story and should be in print.

War Game is a realistic picture of the horror of war.
This story is included in our sixth grade anthology. The students love this story. I am sorry that the book is out of print.